Pillaging of Gaza Antiquities An Archaeological Tragedy
The pillaging from the Gaza Strip of thousands of historical artifacts, some dating back to the time of Alexander the Great, at the hands of the Israeli occupation has stripped Gaza of its rich history, writes Asmaa al-Ghoul.
Moshe Dayan is the former Israeli defense minister who, using the strength of the Israeli army, pillaged countless artifacts — dating from the Ottoman era to the time before Christ — from Gaza, in an effort to erase Palestinian history.
Once we entered the archeological sites in the Gaza Strip, we noted the full consequences of this pillaging. Gaza is devoid of its archaeological content; only floors and destroyed walls remain there. This was obvious when Al-Monitor visited St. Hilarion monastery, considered one of the most important in the Middle East. St. Hilarion was the disciple of St. Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism.
A pillaged archaeological site
The monastery is an archaeological mound in the middle of the Gaza Strip, with a mosaic floor dating back to the Byzantine era and parts of an ancient monument, a basilica-style church with three corridors and the tomb of St. Hilarion, which was a pilgrimage destination.
